Theater raises $100,000-plus to go digital

All additional pledges to the Rogers City Theater campaign will be used to purchase new auditorium seats to replace the existing circa 1948, Truman-era theater seats with bigger, more comfortable seats with cup-holders. As of Sept. 26, 542 backers had pledged $110,790.Each new seat with a cup holder costs about $200. The ...

ROGERS CITY — A local small town movie theater won't have to close its doors after it successfully met and surpassed its fundraising goal on Kickstarter.com to purchase a digital projector.

The "Save the Rogers City Theater" drive was a success. On Sept. 19, a total of 51 days into a 60-day campaign, pledges on Kickstarter.com surpassed the $100,000 needed to "go digital." This will allow the historic, restored theater to purchase and install a state-of-the-art digital projector. The 76-year-old theater will not go dark when Hollywood completes its distribution conversion from 35mm to digital.

Karl Heidemann has been the owner of the Rogers City Theater for 10 years, and has said the conversion is even more expensive for his venue since it is only a uniplex (one screen) and there is not a large population base.

Kickstarter is a website that allows for-profit companies to try and find investors. The amount needed has to be entered and if the goal is not reached by the deadline, potential investors get their money back.

All additional pledges to the Rogers City Theater campaign will be used to purchase new auditorium seats to replace the existing circa 1948, Truman-era theater seats with bigger, more comfortable seats with cup-holders. As of Sept. 26, 542 backers had pledged $110,790.

Each new seat with a cup holder costs about $200. The Kickstarter reward for a $10 pledge will include the backer's name on the roll of backers. The Kickstarter reward for a $200 pledge includes two tickets, popcorn and pop and it will pay for one new seat. The Kickstarter reward for $2,000 pledge includes a theater party for 100 people and it will pay for 10 new seats.

Pledges can still be made to the campaign until 10 a.m. on Sept. 28. Pledges can be made by visiting www.kickstarter.com and entering "Rogers City Theater" in the search box. Pledges made on kickstarter.com are processed by Amazon.com. Amazon accepts gift cards as well as conventional credit cards.

The Rogers City Theater serves as both a movie theater and a performance venue for theater productions and concerts.